Siding tool



Feb. 11, 1958 F. A. JONES 2,823,011

, SIDING TOOL Filed Jan. 10, 1955 Francis A. Jones INVENTOR.

United Sttates Patent 2,823,011 SIDING TOOL Francis A. Jones, Fort Dodge, Iowa Application January 10, 1955, Serial No. 480,837 1 Claim. (Cl. 25415) The present invention relates generally to new and useful improvements in carpenters tools, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a portable hand tool comprising novel means for expeditiously straightening and tightening sheathing, siding, flooring, etc., preparatory to nailing.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a tool of the aforementioned character which is adapted to be readily mounted on and firmly anchored to various sizes of studs, joists, rafters, etc., for operation.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a carpenters tool of the character described which is universally adjustable for operation on a board regardless of its angle to the member to which it is to be nailed and on which the tool is mounted.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a siding, etc., tool of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, compact, light in weight and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a tool constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view, showing the device in use.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a metallic lever 5 in the form of a bar of suitable dimensions. One end portion of the lever 5 is formed to provide a handle 6. At its other end, the substantially flat, metallic lever 5 terminates in a substantially U-shaped hook 7 for engagement with a conventional stud from the rear thereof, as at 8. Formed integrally with the side edges of the bight portion or bend 9 of the hook 7 is a pair of vertically and forwardly curved anchoring teeth or prongs it).

Mounted for sliding and rotary adjustment on the lever 5 is a foot which is designated generally by reference character 11. The foot 11 comprises a metallic plate 12 having a circular opening 13 therein through which the lever 5 passes. The plate 12 is of substantially the shape shown to advantage in Figure 3 of the drawing.

The foot 11 is engageable with a board to be straightened and tightened, as at 14. Toward this end, the foot 11 comprises a lateral, integral jaw 15 on the base of the plate 12. The jaw 15 is engageable with the free longitudinal edge of the board. Formed integrally with the jaw 15 is a flange 16 which is engageable with the outer side or face of the board. Then, a jaw 17 is provided on the flange 16 for engagement in the grooved edges of boards. It will be observed that the jaw 17 extends laterally from the flange 16.

A stop 18 is provided at an intermediate point on the lever 5 for the foot 11. In the embodiment shown, the stop 18 includes a metallic plate 19 having a slot therein through which the lever 5 passes. Anchored in the plate 19 on opposite sides of the lever 5 is a pair of cotter "ice pins 20. Then, a cotter pin 21 is mounted in the eyes or loops of the cotter pins 20, said cotter pin 21 passing through an opening 22 which is provided therefor in the lever 5 for securing the plate 19 against sliding movement thereon.

It is thought that the manner in which the device is used will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, when siding is being installed, the hook 7 is engaged behind a convenient stud, as at 8, at a point adjacent the board to be tightened, as at 14. The foot 11 is then brought to bear on the free upper edge of the board 14 and the lever 5, extending across said board, is swung downwardly. In this manner, the board 14 is pressed downwardly tightly on the subjacent or previously nailed board 23. Of course, the board 14 is now nailed to the stud. The construction and arrangement is such that the foot 11 may be readily engaged with the work regardless of its angle relative to the stud or other member on which the tool is mounted. Also, the lever 5 may be swung in opposite directions, as may be necessary. When the lever 5 is swung in one direction, the prong 10 which projects in the opposite direction is embedded in the stud or other member for positively anchoring said lever thereto. The rotatably and slidably mounted foot 11 may be readily adjusted or positioned to meet various conditions. Thus, the tool may be readily used for tightening sheathing which usually is nailed to the studding at an angle of approximately 45. The device may also be readily used for roof work, flooring, etc.

It is believed that the many advantages of a carpenters hand tool constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A tool of the character described comprising; a lever including a flat metallic bar, a handle on one end of said bar, a substantially U-shaped hook on the other end of the bar engageable with a stud from therebehind, selectively usable prongs projecting in opposite directions from the side edges of the bight portion of the hook and forwardly curved toward said handle portion to be engaged in the stud, and a foot rotatably and slidably mounted on the bar and engageable with a board to be tightened, said foot embodying a substantially flat plate portion which is generally triangular in marginal outline and which is provided at its apical end with a circular hole of a diameter slightly greater than the cross section of said fiat metallic bar and said bar extending through said hole, the workengaging edge of said plate having a lateral flange constituting a jaw which is flat and coextensive in length with the cooperating portion of the plate and being adapted to rest firmly upon a flat edge of a board, said jaw being provided with a right angularly depending flange which forms an apron and is adapted to engage a surface portion of the board at right angles to said edge, and a second jaw integral with the depending flange and projecting at right angles beyond said flange and being adapted for engagement in a groove in an edge portion of a board, both of said jaws being disposed in a plane beyond one vertical surface of the plate portion and said jaws being coextensive in length and commensurate in length with the length of said flange.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 571,810 Tubbs Nov. 24, 1896 634,561 Manwaring Oct. 10, 1899 1,445,263 Asper Feb. 13, 1923 

